10 Questions with ... DJ Pup Dawg

1.What excites you about Radio?

Everything! I love that radio is still the leader in media broadcasting. Also being part of Clear Channel IHeartRadio has been INSANE!!

2. Do you remember your impression of the station, the first time you walked into The Beat in Los Angeles?

The first time I walked into that building I was in an AWE! I was a fan of the station all my life and listened to all the jocks/mixers ever since I was a little kid. Taking the elevator in that big building on Wilshire was truly a dream come true.

3. You've come up through the ranks at major market radio stations. What do you think the advantage is to doing that rather than having gone to a small market to get into programming, perhaps earlier?

Coming from the #2 market, I felt like staying Top10 had to be a must, but if the opportunity was right I would have gone to a smaller market.

The advantage right now is that big markets DJ's/Personalities are being syndicated in the smaller market. Being the MD for WJMN also has a lot of smaller markets seeing what we do and following our lead since we're still big enough to get research.

4. Moving from Los Angeles to Boston, what was the toughest thing to get used to?

The cold and people not liking me. I was raised in LA and was always around people that I knew or knew someone that knew someone from my click. The music industry is very competitive and some people will do whatever it takes to put people against you. Luckily I stuck it out and the few people that were trying to cause ruckus ended up looking bad.

5. When you've had a long, tough day, what do you do to get back to your happy place?

I take a drive and put some roots reggae on...driving with the top down on a winding road.

6. You're an extremely busy guy at the station. Wearing so many hats, how do you keep your focus?

Lots of calendar notes...my phone calendar has reminders set for every call, contest and meeting. It's public too (www.djpupdawg.com, this way local artist don't think I'm ignoring them...make an appointment, once it gets in my calendar its set in stone for me)

7. Think back to when you were 10 years old. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A basketball player and marine biologist.

8. With your workload at the station, are you spinning much in Boston-area clubs?

Yes, but I've slowed down a lot. There are lots of DJ's out there doing it for a lot cheaper, which is fine because who am I to stop someone from hustling. Plus, I charge more now, so now when I go to a club it's kind of like an event for the city (in my head at least..lol) Traveling and spinning for artists or concerts in the city is what I focus on now. Being selective has also raised my value.

9. I'm thinking about starting an event where a radio programmer is teamed with a record promotion executive or a regional to compete in events for humongous prizes...like station swag and label promo tchotchkes. The events will be athletic, trivia, problem solving and some will be straight-up, old school SAT type questions. Who would you choose to be your label partner/teammate?

Davey D at Universal Republic.

10. What do you think is the biggest programming benefit of mix programming?

Introducing new records!

If you were to leave Radio and music today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?

Financial advisor

If you were stuck on a deserted island for six months and could only watch one movie, one TV show and listen to one CD, which would you choose?

• Movie: The Rock
• TV: Seinfeld
• CD:Alicia Keys